Frost Dates for 87008 — Cedar Crest, New Mexico

Half of springs at Sandia Park, NM see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 26. Planting tender crops after May 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 26 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 9 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 152 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 174 days one year in ten and falls short of 129 one year in ten. On average 171 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about May 23, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Sandia Park, NM, averaging 83°F by day and 53°F at night; December is the coldest at 43°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,270 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 91% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 34% of them (765) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 564.

The nearest other station, Albuquerque Foothills NE, NM, 7 miles west of Cedar Crest and 1,036 feet lower, has a last frost 18 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 14 days later (October 23), a season 32 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cedar Crest usually arrives around November 16, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albuquerque Foothills NE, NM, 6.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87008 is 5 miles from Sandia Park, NM, which stands at 7,030 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 87047 (Sandia Park). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87008 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.